re: Amway and other multi-level marketing/pyramid schemes

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I've yet to sign up one person to my wife's MLM. She keeps bugging me to do so

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That's a good way to lose your friends IMO.

In the mid 90's IHI (International Heritage) made it's way through Lafayette. Several of the first to sign up were 19-20 yr old students at USL. Dudes were fired up and could talk a smooth game to other gullible students who wanted some easy money.

IHI during it's peak had over 140,000 members as those 2-3 student from Lafayette were in the top 25 of income recv'd.

Seems like IHI only lasted for 2-3 yrs until the feds caught on and later sentenced the CEO Stan Van Etten to 10 yrs in prison for operating an illegal pyramid/Ponzi scheme.

my neighbor invited me to several meetings as I informed him I was not interested in selling gold coins and Swarovski crystal

The lady that has cut my hair for several years.... Her husband called me on a saturday while i'm with my kids and gives me this spill about direct buy or shopping something or another (i forget the name) tells me how much money he's making and after 10 minutes of talking gives the phone to some guy who's with him and the guy basically gives me the same spill about all this money and how easy it is, etc. I tried to politely inform the guy i have 2 young kids and 0 extra time... "oh you don't need much time that's the beauty of it" I don't have time to cut my damn grass regularly much less sell some crap that if people wanted they'd go to the store and buy ... Let the hairdresser know that wasn't cool and i don't have time for it.

"Power of the Trapezoid!!"

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As in lose their "sale" or lose them in general?

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Both, but I meant just in general. It obviously depends on the friends themselves, but most people I know would be turned off by something like that even being brought up, but if I pushed it at all I would prolly turn a few of them away. I know it's understood that "friends and family" are usually the first ones on the list of "potential clients," but that is a slippery slope IMO because not everyone wants to be hit up with bullshite "quick-money schemes."

My sister got into Arbonne a while back and really badgered my wife. My wife went to a silly "spa party" and felt like she had to buy something. After that, we avoided sis and screened calls. It only lasted about 8 months. I think she blew a nice chunk of money and felt really stupid. She has since apologized and is embarrassed about the experience. I try not bring it up at family events.

If only your dad had read the script...

Had a friend, a doctor who many people on here would know, start after me about MLM. Stayed on me for a while until I finally agreed to go to a meeting down at the holiday inn on Seigen . Lots of people. Lots of hype lots of too good to be true stories.
But they always used the term multi level marketing. I leaned over to my friend and said is this some a way shite or something". No no no. Blah blah blah. MLM
Sure enough it was amway. Led by the clown who was a state representative who had a religious tv station in BR.
Turns out you make money when you get so many people under you and he had all his employees and church members selling and making his passive income
My doctor friend hit up all his family and friends. His parents bought mega expensive washer and dryer and he was selling amway crap at his office
Sad. It was almost cult like. They hung out with each other talking amway shite all the time several nights a week

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Sad. It was almost cult like.

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I know someone who is trying to sell Genesis Pure. All she talks about and posts about on FB is Genesis Pure. It has become unbearable. She was never annoying like this before she got on this Genesis Pure bandwagon. Now, if she catches wind that you are eating a donut, she criticizes your eating choices and tells you to 'invest' in her product.

So I agree...it is very 'cult-like.'

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If only your dad had only bought and read the script...

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FIFY